Skip to main content
S 2343 110th Congress Senate Housing and Community Development Finance and Financial Sector Government Operations and Politics Government publications Law Liability (Law) Mortgage interest rates Mortgages Settlement costs

Real Estate Transparency Act of 2007

Introduced: November 13, 2007 Introduced by: Reed, Jack Democratic · Rhode Island See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 13, 2007
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S14299-14300)
Nov 13, 2007
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14298-14299)
Nov 13, 2007
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Real Estate Transparency Act of 2007 - Amends the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974 to modify requirements governing settlement statements.

Requires the originator of a federally related mortgage loan to provide, within three days of a loan application, a written agreement to the applicant itemizing all of the fees the originator may charge at or before loan settlement, including origination, underwriting, and broker fees. Excludes from such requirement bona fide discount points payable by the borrower to reduce the loan's interest rate.

Requires an originator fee agreement to set out the following fee payment methods: (1) paying in cash before or at settlement; (2) adding such fees into the total loan amount to be borrowed; and (3) increasing the loan's interest rate.

Requires: (1) written and oral explanations of a borrower's payment options; and (2) a borrower's signature attesting agreement with originator fees and with the chosen method of payment.

Requires the originator to provide the applicant with a written early settlement statement of all settlement costs to be charged at or before settlement.

Shields borrowers from liability for any such fees not disclosed on an early settlement statement, except in certain circumstances.

Establishes originator liability to a borrower for non-compliance with this Act, including reimbursement of the borrower for court costs.

Repeals the requirement that special information booklets prepared by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for borrowers contain a good faith estimate of the amount or range of expected settlement charges.

What's happening now November 13, 2007

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S14299-14300)

 Committees of jurisdiction 1